COMMUNITY | Cyber safety training reaches visually impaired women, girls
Participants completed the companies’ #BeCyberSmart training module, which covered phishing detection, scam prevention, and protecting personal information from cyber threats.
Women and girls with visual impairment received cybersecurity training through a digital safety workshop supported by PLDT and Smart, aimed at helping participants recognize online threats and use digital platforms more safely for education, work, and everyday activities.
The three-day workshop was organized by Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV) in partnership with the Quezon City Persons with Disability Affairs Office and the APNIC Foundation. The program formed part of PLDT and Smart’s #KonektedforSaferInternet and #KonektedforInclusion initiatives.
Participants completed the companies’ #BeCyberSmart training module, which covered phishing detection, scam prevention, and protecting personal information from cyber threats. The workshop also addressed emerging online risks, including AI-generated content, online harassment, and digital exclusion, with lessons tailored for women and girls with visual impairment.
“Cybersecurity awareness is an essential life skill in today’s connected world,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, assistant vice president and head of stakeholder engagement at PLDT and Smart. “By empowering persons with disabilities to #BeCyberSmart, we hope to help build a safer digital Philippines where everyone can participate online with confidence.”
Participants also shared practical tips they learned during the training.
“You don’t have to share everything online,” said Juzztine Mae Bactad, a graphic artist with visual impairment. “Criminals can use that information to compromise your accounts. Turning on multi-factor authentication is one way to better protect them.”
Ma. Angelica Tores, a voice talent with visual impairment, advised participants to remain cautious of fraudulent messages.
“Be wary of text messages saying you won something or offering you a job,” Tores said. “It’s a red flag when you’re asked to pay before claiming a prize. If you’re applying for work, make sure the employer is legitimate by checking the company’s official website or verified social media pages.”
According to the organizers, PLDT and Smart, together with ATRIEV and the APNIC Foundation, have also conducted internet safety workshops this year at the Philippine National School for the Blind and the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center to expand cybersecurity awareness among persons with disabilities.
The initiative complements the companies’ broader cybersecurity efforts. In the first six months of the year, the PLDT and Smart Cyber Security Operations Group blocked more than 209 billion attempts to access malicious domains and blacklisted more than 193,000 URLs linked to phishing, spam, and online hoaxes. Smart also blocked nearly 1.6 billion scam text messages and more than 373,000 mobile numbers associated with fraudulent activities.
Full disclosure: All news articles published on the TechSabado website are written by human journalists, unless otherwise specified. Final text editing is partially assisted by artificial intelligence (AI).
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